Free products in prime characteristics: A representation of Fuchsian groups (Q1907164)

\textit{S. White} [J. Algebra 118, No. 2, 408-422 (1988; Zbl 0662.20024)]\ gave a geometrical proof that the real bijections \(x\mapsto x+1\) and \(x\mapsto x^d\), \(d\geq 3\) prime, generate a free group of rank two. His geometrical argument does not work in prime characteristic \(p\). Avoiding this geometrical argument, the authors obtain an analogue of White's theorem for certain infinite subfields \(L\) of the algebraic closure of the Galois field \(\text{GF}(p)\). For any prime \(d\), not a divisor of \(p(p-1)\), the maps \(x\mapsto x+1\) and \(x\mapsto x^d\) generate a group of bijections of such an \(L\) that is isomorphic to the free product \(\mathbb{Z}*\mathbb{Z}_p\).